Ultrasonographic Findings of Meckel's Diverticulum

Abstract

Meckel's diverticulum is a major disease of intestinal hemorrhage in children. In most cases, Meckel's diverticulum with bleeding has ectopic gastric mucosa and is detected in ^<99m>Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy. But, some cases are not detected in scintigraphy and diagnosis is considered difficult. We tried ultrasonographic examination in 3 cases of suspected bleeding Meckel's diverticulum. Meckel's diverticulum was detected in all cases. Ultrasonography showed that Meckel's diverticulum was a blind-ending thick walled cylindrical intestine with no peristalsis in all cases. Two cases had resection of the Meckel's diverticulum under laparoscopy. The specimen had hypertrophic ectopic gastric mucosa like ultrasonographic findings. We think that bleeding Meckel's diverticulum was clearly different from normal small intestine in ultrasonography. In ultrasonography, the characteristics of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum were (1) the thick walled cylindrical intestine, (2) the blind-ending intestine, (3) the intestine having no peristalsis and no passage. We suggest that ultrasonography is an available test for Meckel's diverticulum undetectable in scintigraphy.